Comment on AG says wind farm foes benefited from settling lawsuit

Two officers in Friends of Maine’s Mountains, a group formed to oppose construction of wind-power farms along the state’s scenic mountain vistas, have agreed to resign to settle accusations of conflict of interest. They allegedly ousted members of the group’s board who refused to approve a settlement in a suit against a wind energy developer. The suit then was settled and the proceeds used partially to fund a consulting contract for one officer, Christopher O’Neil, and to leverage a financial settlement in a separate suit filed by the other, Rand Stowell, according to an agreement between the officers and the attorney general’s office. The state Board of Environmental Protection on Thursday takes up FMM’s appeal of a decision to license a wind energy project in Bingham. Attorney General Janet Mills launched the investigation into FMM’s settlement of the suit and the use of the proceeds of the settlement last March.